On the John Wayne Pioneer Trail

Kat and I have driven across Washington State countless times on Interstate 90, but it wasn’t until we pedaled across on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail that we had a visceral connection to the state we’ve called home for over 30 years. Pedal stroke by pedal stroke, we traveled through evergreen forests, dramatic shrub steppe, unique channeled scablands, and vast farmland.

This bike trip took nine days.

The journey to get a traumatized dog, rescued from a garbage dump in Taiwan, to join us, took three years and you can read about it in the Dec/Jan issue of Adventure Cyclist.

Better yet, YOU can ride this trail. It takes some extra effort, there are permits and some unique travel hurdles along the way, but you will be rewarded for your efforts. The best place to start is the Friends of John Wayne Pioneer Trail website with links and tons of information about this trail that runs along the old Milwaukee Road rail line.

Willie Weir is a contributor for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His books, Travels with Willie and Spokesongs, will inspire you to hit the road and might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can also find him at WillieWeir.com, Facebook, and Instagram.